The Language of Teamwork

How fluent are you in the language of teamwork?

You probably already hold employee meetings, conduct training sessions, and check in between projects — but what does teamwork really look like in the field? And how does it differ from the corporate jargon we so often hear?

At Phoenix, one of our most valuable assets is our team-centered language. This isn’t just about what we say — it’s about the moral structure and shared respect that hold our company together. If you don’t truly value the people who show up for you each day, you won’t be valued in return. Without that, you’re just another landscaping company blending into the crowd.

Learn to teach, not tell.

This philosophy is less about how you say something and more about why you say it.

If you’re reminding a crew member to handle a plant with extra care but see the same mistake repeated, it might not be their failure — it might be a teaching opportunity.

When we teach instead of tell, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our teams. Study after study shows that hands-on, face-to-face learning leads to stronger retention and better results.

Take it a step further — encourage your crews to teach each other after learning something new. This builds leadership, confidence, and morale across the entire team.

Try swapping phrases like:

“Can you show me how you’ve been maintaining this?”

instead of

“What are you doing wrong?”

By giving your team a chance to demonstrate their process, you create a moment for shared learning instead of correction.

Hierarchies need not apply.

Language that fosters collaboration rarely sounds authoritative. Even small phrases like “She works for me” versus “She works with me” make a big difference. One subtly divides; the other unites.

True leadership means setting the tone through collaboration. That might look like picking up a shovel when the situation calls for it or working alongside your team to meet a challenge head-on. Boss language empowers only the boss. Team language empowers everyone.

Our crews run the day-to-day — they make leadership possible. That’s not lower. That’s foundational.

When language turns foul…

Workplace language doesn’t have to include profanity to turn negative. Persistent negativity — about the job, leadership, or team members — can infect a culture just as fast.

When that happens, address it directly. Ask questions. Why do they feel this way? What’s missing? What support do they need?

Sometimes, you’ll encounter someone whose mindset simply won’t change. In those cases, how you handle it matters. Addressing negativity with integrity shows the rest of your team that you’re committed to protecting their environment and their morale.

Mistakes or opportunities?

A mistake. A mishap. A mess-up.

All of these words can shift how a team responds when something goes wrong. But they can all be replaced with one word: opportunity.

A broken water line becomes an opportunity to teach safer practices.

A misplaced tool becomes an opportunity to teach responsibility and care for shared equipment.

Everything is a teaching moment — and every teaching moment is a chance to strengthen teamwork.

When leaders see opportunity where others see failure, growth follows naturally.